There is officially something weird going on here. On a recent cruise aboard a Premier Castaway 250 pontoon, the driver jammed the throttles on a pair of 2009 E-TEC 130 hp outboards and, as expected, the holeshot exhibited brisk acceleration as we got on plane in just three seconds, but when they hit 4500 rpm, it felt like we shifted gears as we experienced a substantial burst of acceleration. It was almost as though a turbocharger kicked in, the sensation was so abrupt, but we were surprised to learn what really caused it was merely a rechanneling of the exhaust.

Go With the Flow
 The E-TEC 130 hp and 115 H.O. outboards have a two-way tuned exhaust system that employs a switch-over valve that reroutes the exhaust flow coming out of the combustion chamber. At lower rpm the exhaust flows through the long track, which helps maximize low-end torque. Then at 4500 RPM the flow switches over to a much shorter path that, like a racing motorcycle’s expansion chamber exhaust pipe, uses the exhaust’s momentum and pressure waves to create a pump that helps jam more air and fuel into the combustion chamber. It’s almost like having a turbocharger without moving parts. The result is a noticeable surge that will likely get a smile from your passengers, but could also throw off the balance of a skier who wasn’t expecting it.
More to Love
 The new 130 hp and 115 H.O. share much in common with the 115 hp, introduced in 2007, including a 1.7-liter displacement, V4, 60-degree block, and 91 mm by 66 mm bore and stroke. But there are some significant differences. Although the new engines are still the lightest in their class at 405 pounds, the weight has increased by 36 pounds in part due to the new two-way induction system and because they are 1.4 inches taller. The extra height houses the air intake routed over the top of the engine instead of through the block. The new route makes the inducted air cooler, therefore denser, allowing more volume to be pumped in for more horsepower.

130 hp vs. 115 H.O.
 Although the folks from Evinrude conveniently never mentioned it, we discovered that the only difference in the two engines is the decal identifying the model (and presumably the horsepower). We uncovered this during Boating World’s marathon testing tour this fall where we happened to run an Alumacraft 175 Dominator Sport with the new 130 on the transom. We compared this to a test done a month earlier on the exact same model boat powered by a E-TEC “115” H.O. Time to plane was an identical 3.5 seconds, and it had
a top speed of 43.9 mph on both.
The suggested retail price is also
the same at $11,620.
 So why play games? A number of boats on the market have a 115 horsepower maximum rating, which is typically pretty conservative for safety reasons. Outboards have an allowable fudge factor when it comes to horsepower ratings. Simply put, the 115 H.O. allows owners who are restricted to 115 hp to buy a “H.O.t” engine for that extra boost of power.
Evinrude the Tree Hugger?
 This year marks Evinrude’s 100th anniversary and maybe it’s a little ironic that this is the last year the EPA is allowing carbureted two-strokes – like Ole Evinrude’s first model – to be produced. Unlike some other manufacturers, BRP doesn’t produce a carbureted model since the company allowed the Johnson brand to go dormant. Instead they produce some of the greenest models out there that produce the least amount of carbon monoxide of any brand. The company’s stratified combustion technology gives engines incredible fuel economy, especially at idle, where they burn less than a fifth of a gallon per hour.

It’s All About Convenience
Like other E-TEC engines, there is no scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 300 hours, whichever comes first. Since it’s a direct injected two-stroke, it doesn’t need oil changes, and burns very little oil com­pared to other two-strokes. There’s no break-in required and when it comes time to winterize it, the driver can accomplish this task without getting out of his or her seat. There’s even a limp-home feature that allows you to run it for five hours even when it’s overheating, without causing damage.